Driving-clutch for automobiles.



No. 865,666. PATENTED SEPT. l0, 1907.

' C.WENDORPP.

DRIVING CLUTCH FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 865,666. PATBNTED SEPT. 10,1907.

. o. WENDORPF. Y Y DRIVING GLUTCH PoR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 4. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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. 72 'wfzewyy M M @A 76951 zt/gym NITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

' CHARLES wENnoEFE, or CHICAGO," iLLiNois..

DRIVING-CLUTCH Fon AeToiroBrLEs.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. io, 1907.

Application filed Mal-cli 4,1907. Serial No. '.l

4pelled vehicle with` the axle in such manner that it may be rotated in either direction by the axle as the power may be applied, and have at the same time capacity-for rotating faster than the axle whichever way it is driven, so that in iunning forward or backing around a curve the outer wheel shall 4be free to take the greater speed due to the larger curve in which it travels., u

It consists of the characteristics, elements and features of construction shown and described, as pointed outin the claims. i i i lln the drawingst-Figure l is a partly sectional plan view of a portion of the axle and wheels of a powerpropelled vehicle having the driving v connections embodying this invent-ion,.section being made axially with respect to the axle through the hub and clutchdriving connections of the wheel. Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2 2 on Fig. 1 showing the parts in position of rest,-that is, when not rotated in either direction. Fig. 3-is a similar view showing the relation of the 'parts as slightly changed by the rotation of the axle in'one direction. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.- 2 showing'a modification. Fig. 5 is a view similar' to Fig. 3 showing the`same modification as Fig. 4.

The axle, l, is rotated by a chain (not shown) from the power shaft of the motor (not shown) passing around the sprocket wheel, 2, on said axl'e, l. lhe wheel comprises a hub portion in which'the spokes, 3, are firmly bound between an outer flange, 4,`and the side web, 5c, of theclutch case, 5, whose cylindrical body constitutes the outer element ofthe clutch, as will hereinafter appear. The .clutch case has a sleeve, 5d, forming a bearing onthe axle, l. Copcrating with the outer element, 5 of the clutch there is a two-part inner element consisting of the two half-cylindrical elements, 6, 6, which are adapted to fit snugly within the outer element, 5,- but when seated therein to be separated by a slight gap, as seen at (ib, so that being drawn together at their diametric faces they are relieved from frictional grip upon the outer clutch element. On the axle', l, within the clutch case there is fixedly mounted a driving collar', 7, havingaplurality of iacespreferab1yf,our, corresponding in position to an equal numberof plungers, 8, which are lodged two in each of the half cylindrical elements, 6, in which there are formed` cavities radial with respect to the axle in which the plungers. fit for radial'movement.

.In the outer end of each plunger there is formed a spring pocket, 8, `in which is lodged a spring, 9, which reacts between'the plunger and the half cylindrical. element, 6, for yieldingly forcing the plunger inward,

or, conversely, forcing the clutch element, 6, outward against the annular outer clutch element, 5.

The inner end of each plunger, 8, is engaged with one of the faces of the collar. 7, by means of two sets or groups of shoulders, 8b, which are oppositely sloped and cooperate with similarly oppositely slopedv shoulders, 7b, of the collar. The shoulders of the plunger are relatively'disposed with respect to the corresponding shoulders of the collar so that perfect engagement of both sets of shoulders of the plunger with the corresponding sets of shoulders on the collar to the full lengthv or depth of the shoulders is not possible. The purpose of this construction is that when the shaft is rotated in one direction, ythe shoulders on all four faces of the collar having the slopein one direction cooperate with the correspondingly sloped shoulders of the four plungers to force the latter outward, causing them to crowdthe half-cylindrical clutch elements, 6, outward firmly l into engagement with the annular element, 5, for-drivg ing-the wheel in the direction in whichthe shaft is rotated; and if the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction the same result follows from the similar engagement of the oppositely sloped sets of shoulders, of the collar with the correspondingly oppositely sloped sets of shoulders of the four plungers. ltwill be seen, also, that` in whichever direction the shaft is rotating and thereby driving the wheel, a more rapid rotation of the wheel in the same direction will relaxthe engagement of the operative or driving sets of sloping shoulders,- thus releasing the engagement between the two clutch members, so that this engagement does not prevent the more rapid rotation or over-travel of -tlie wheel in respect tothe shaft in the saine direction in which the shaft is rotating, whichever direction that may be,and this is the purpose of the invention.

' ln Figs. 4 and /'there is shown a modification consisting in part in making the inner clement' of the clutchfinthree segments instead of two, each segmental clutch element, 6x, being recessed at the .inner side to receive a modified plunger, 8X, having opposite facing shoulders, 8b, corresponding to the'similarly in-v ipo dicated shoulders of the other form facing the shoulders,

7 b, on the triangularly shaped driving collar, 7X,- which in this form takes the place of the collar, 7, ofthe other forni. Besides the change of number ofthe parts from two to three, this modification differs fromthe [other form in'that the plungers have a reduced stem,` 7 Y, for

guidance inthe correspondingly reduced socket inthe segmental clutch element, and operate outwardly against ofthe shoulder, 7, instead of operatingas in the other ilo said clutch element for pressing it outward by means J l .v 'form. by their full'end against a comparativelyl thin iication under consideration Figs. 4 and 5) is fully distinguished from the other form by making the inner circumferenee of the outer clutch elementor casing5, scalloped, as shown these figures; or,-to state the construction more accurately,-v consisting of a succes sion of'concave seats, 5, with the intervening projec` tions, 5l?, preferably slightly rounded', and informing each of the segmental clutch elements, 6x, with two con cave recesses or seats,'6!, in-which are lodged rollers Y,or loose cylindrical abutments, 10, 10, which project or protrude beyond the periphery oi the clutch element so as to project into and occupy the recesses, 5". The depth of the recesses, 5, is not greater than the range of radial play of the clutch elements, 6, so that in case of overspeedof the wheel as compared with the axle tending to rotate the outer clutch element or casing, 5, relatively to the inner clutch element, 6*, the roller abutments, l0, are crowded back out of their seats in the recesses, 5", the projections, 5b, riding over the rollers which immediately recover their seated position in the next succeeding recesses. The action of this construction is that in caseoi over-travel the clutch elements,

v(5",are immediately taken out of rictional engagement I Clairnz* 1. In a power-driven vehicle in combination with' the axle and the wheel journaled on the-axle, an outer annular clutch element rigid with the hub;` an inner clutch element consisting of a plurality of parts, each adapted for seating outwardly against the inner surface -ot the outer annular element; a collar fast on the shaft within the inner Vclutch elements; plungers lodged for radial movement in the said inner clutch elements; springs reacting between said phingers and said inner clutch 'elements for holding the latter yieldingly outward relatively to the plunger `the plungers having lat thelr.inner ends oppositely' sibplng shoulders and ,the collar having cor -respondingly oppositely sloping shoulders for coperating with'the piungersrespectively.

2A In 'a 'powendriven vvehicle in combination with the axle and the wheel journaled o'n the axle, an outer annular clutch, element rigid with the hun; an inner'rcluteh element comprising two halt cylindrical parts adapted each to seat4 lagainst the inner surface'ot the annular .clutch element and having slight play within-said inner element, each of said half-cylindrical parts having two radial pockets opening inwardly and plungers lodged in said pockets for radial movementsprings reacting be' tween the pluugers and said clutch parts for Iorclngthe plungers relatiively inward and `the vclutch parts outward;

ses,

ya collar fast on the axle within Athe clutch elements having faces corresponding to the inner ends 'of the two plunger-s in each inner clutch part, each of said faces having two sets of shoulders opposltely sloped, the inner ends of the plungers. having twoA corresponding sets of opposltely` sloped shoulders for coperating with theshoulders of the collar respectively.

3. In a power-driven vehicle, in combination with the axle and the Wheel journaled thereon, an outer annular element rigid with' the hub; an inner clutch element ,cone

`sisting of a 'plurality of parts, each adapted for seating outwardly toward the inner surface of the outer annular element; a collar fast on the .shaft within the inner,v

clutch element; plungers lodged for radial movement in the respective parts of said inner clutch element; springs reacting between said plungers and said clutch parts for holding the latter yieldingly outward, the plungers having at their inner ends oppositely sloping shoulders andthe collar having correspondingly oppositely -sloping shoulders for coperating therewith, the inner circumference of the outer clutch element being provided with a multiplicity of concave seats orA recesses, renderngit corrugated or scalloped, each of the several parts of the inner clutch outwardly toward the inner surface of the outer annular y element; a vcollar fast on the shaft within the inner `clutch element; plungers lodgedv for radial movement in the respective parts of said inner clutch element; springs reacting between said plungers and said clutch parts for holding the latter yleldingly outward, the plungers having at their inner ends opposltely sloping shoulders,and the 'collarhaving correspondingly opposltely sloping shoulders for coperating therewith, the inner circumference of the outer clutch element being provided with a multlpliclty of concave seats or recesses rendering it corrugated or scalloped, each of the several parts ot the inner clutch element having lodged in itsfouter periphery two rollers presenting a small protruding segment for seating in the recesses of said outer clutch element and adapted to disengage therefrom bythe inward yielding of the said inner clutch parts when the `outer clutch element is actuated f or rotation relatively to the inner.

, 5. In a power-driven vehicle, in combination with the axle andthe wheel journaled thereon, clutch devices for connecting the axle andwhe'el, comprising an outer clutch element and an inner clutch element having a plurality of 'parts' each adapted to yield inward toward the axle means on the axle for crowding them outward by rotation df the axle, the outer clutch` element being lnterlorly scalloped or corrugated, each ofthe inner clutch parte yhaving two rollers lodged in its periphery-and protruding `a small segment therebeyond for seating lin the scalloped recesses` or corrugations of the outer element.

In testimony whereof, i have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 27 day oil February, 1007.

CHARLES WENDORFF.

Witnesses:

Louis ErsnNs'rAnrr, CHAs S. BURTON: 

